Digital Scrapbook

Bill Brady, who is remembered for his Fredericksburg and MacArthur High School bands, was born May 28, 1936 in Laredo, Texas. He was reared i n Carrizo Springs, where his father was County Sheriff. Bill graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Sul Ross College, and earned a Master's degree at North Texas State University in 1973 while teaching at Bridgeport. Prior to the beginning of his teaching career, Bill attended the Navy School of Music, and he performed in the Army Band.

Bill started teaching in Bridgeport in 1969. The band gained an enviable reputation under Bill's five years of leadership. Winning awards was almost commonplace for both concert and stage bands. The Concert Band won 4 UIL Sweepstakes awards, and First Division ratings at Enid, Oklahoma and Amarillo. The Stage Band won First in competition at Arlington, Texas Tech, and Corpus Christi, and placed in other contests they entered. Bill also taught at Lewisville before moving to Fredericksburg. During Bill's six years at Fredericksburg , the band won six Sweepstakes awards plus the first UIL 4A State Marching Band championship in 1979. The Fredericksburg band was the only Texas band to appear at the National Bandmasters Association's Marching Spectacular in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1980.

Bill moved to MacArthur High School in San Antonio in the Fall of 1980. Again Bill's bands were Sweepstakes winners. The MacArthur Marching Band placed 5th in the 5A State Marching Band Contest in 1981; they placed third in 1983; and they placed first in 1984, plus they were awarded the Governor's Cup for the most dazzling, creative show of the evening. In 1985, the MacArthur band became the second band to win back-to-back State Marching Band Contest championships. The 1985 championship performance will be remembered because it came three weeks after Bill's death. Bill, at age 49, died unexpectedly in the airport at St. Louis, MO, on October 18, 1985. He was on his way to judge a state marching contest in Illinois.

Bill was in demand as clinician, adjudicator, and consultant. He had been an active member of TMEA, TBA, Phi Beta Mu, and TMAA (Texas Music Adjudicators Association).

Bill's ability to help young people achieve goals higher than they thought they could reach grew with each group that entered his band hall. Bill said, "I teach because I like young people. They are startling in their intelligence, refreshing in their humor, and very giving to people in their trust." Bill will always be remembered for his great love for people and for music education.